Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Me. God answers the preceding prayer, and announces the rejection of the synagogue, alluding to the armies which prevailed in the days of the Machabees.—Not. Saint Paul explains this of the conversion of the Gentiles. Romans 10:20. Calmet.—It cannot regard the Jews, who are spoken of in the next verse. Worthington.
Verse 3. Gardens, to the impure Venus and Adonis.—Bricks, to the Manes. Calmet.—
Tegula porrectis satis est velata coronis
Et sparsæ fruges parvaque mica salis. Ovid, Fast. x.
Verse 4. Idols: to have dreams, (Strabo xvi.) and commit impurities.—Broth of swine’s flesh, which was prohibited. Leviticus 11:7.
Verse 5. Unclean. Thus acted the hypocritical Pharisees.—Smoke. A just punishment of those who had sought the smoke of human applause.
Verse 6. Bosom: good measure. Lu. 6:38. Rewards and punishments will be eternal.
Verse 7. Hills. Some offered sacrifices to God, others to idols; both unlawfully. Calmet.
Verse 8. Whole. The good grain is preserved amid the general corruption. Bible.—A few of the Jews were chosen to believe in Christ.
Verse 9. Mountains of Judea, (Deuteronomy 3:25) which the captives shall recover, as a figure of those who shall embrace the Christian faith.
Verse 10. Plains. Hebrew Sharon, in the land of Basan.—Achor, near Jericho, called after Achan, ( Calmet.) who perhaps was more correctly styled Achor. Joshua 7:26. Osee 2:15. Bible.
Verse 11. Fortune. Hebrew “Gad,” the sun. Genesis 30:11.—Upon it. Sym. “without me.” Septuagint “to fortune.” Hebrew “to Meni,” the moon, or Queen of heaven. Jeremiah 7:18 and 44:17. Calmet.
Verse 12. Chosen. Free-will is clearly expressed, as rewards are, verse 13. Worthington.
Verse 13. Servants; Christians, ( Calmet.) particularly the elect. Bible.—When the Romans approached Jerusalem, the Christians retired to Pella, and had plenty. Houbigant.
Verse 15. Execration. They can wish to be preserved from nothing worse.—Name. The faithful shall be no longer called Jews. Calmet.—They shall be hated, while the name of Christian shall point out God’s servants. Worthington.
Verse 16. Amen, or “of truth.” False gods shall be neglected. They shall not swear by them, as formerly. Zephaniah 1:5.—Christ usually adopted the asseveration, Amen, Amen, to enforce his truths. Bible.
Verse 17. New earth, in eternity, (Clarius) or here indeed, (2 Peter 3:3. and so forth Houbigant) having purified the former by the general conflagration, which many assert will take place at the end of 6,000 years. Saint Jerome Saint Augustine and so forth At the return of the captives, the country flourished again under the Machabees; (verse 18. Grot.) or rather the gospel changes the face of the earth. Calmet. 66:22. Calmet. Forerius.—After the resurrection the qualities, and not the substance, of the world, will be changed. Worthington.
Verse 20. Fill up. To die soon was deemed a misfortune. Psalms 54:24. Exodus 20:12. Virtue is the measure of the Christian’s life, and God will reward those who labour even late. Matthew 20:13.—Accursed. This age will not be spared. Both just and wicked shall be immortal in eternity. Theod.
Verse 22. A tree. Septuagint “of the tree of life.” Jeremiah 18:8. Calmet.—Continuance. Hebrew “My elect shall long enjoy the works,” and so forth Bible.—They shall not build for others to enjoy.
Verse 23. In. Hebrew “for trouble.” Chal. “death.” Septuagint “malediction.” The children shall not be cut off; and baptism shall secure their salvation.
Verse 25. Straw. People of the most perverse tempers shall become mild by the influence of the gospel, and shall dwell together in perfect concord. Calmet.—Food, according to the sentence. Genesis 3:14. Menochius.—The devil’s power is abridged. Calmet. 11:6. Calmet.—The proudest Gentiles are converted, and adopt the mild manners of Christians, in fasting and mortification. Worthington.